Home / Health / Hypertension's Deadly Toll: Kidney Disease Deaths Surge 48% in 25 Years
Hypertension's Deadly Toll: Kidney Disease Deaths Surge 48% in 25 Years
5 Sep
Summary
- Kidney disease deaths linked to high blood pressure increased by 48% in the U.S. over the past 25 years
- Black Americans had over 3 times the death rate compared to other groups
- Men and Hispanic adults also had higher-than-average death rates
According to a new study presented at an American Heart Association meeting, deaths from high blood pressure-related kidney disease have surged by nearly 50% in the United States over the past 25 years. The research, which analyzed death certificate data from 1999 to 2023, found that the overall death rate rose from 3.3 per 100,000 people in 1999 to 4.9 per 100,000 in 2025.
The crisis has hit some communities much harder than others. Black Americans suffered the highest death rate at nearly 10.4 per 100,000, over 3 times the rate of other groups. Hispanic adults also saw a 15% higher death rate compared to non-Hispanic individuals. Additionally, men had a higher mortality than women, with 4.5 deaths per 100,000 versus 3.7.
"High blood pressure isn't just about strokes or heart attacks -- it's also a major cause of kidney disease and death, especially in Black and Hispanic communities," said researcher Dr. Joiven Nyongbella. He emphasized the urgent need for people to monitor their blood pressure and seek early treatment to prevent these devastating outcomes.
